Welcome to COCA's new look Newsletter. The newsletter had been redesigned in response to feedback from members. The new design is mobile friendly and can be read on most mobile devices.

We have also addressed a concern that some articles were too long. Articles in the Newsletter are now summarized. To read the complete article click on Read More and you will directed to the complete article.

We would welcome feedback (good or bad) on the new design, please contact Martin Benson at
mbenson@coca.on.ca with your comments.

Bill 142, Construction Lien Amendment Act, 2017, received Royal Assent on December 12, 2017, but most of the amendments are not yet in force.

Officials at the Ministry of the Attorney General are working with Bruce Reynolds, Sharon Vogel and their Advisory Group on the drafting of regulations to support Bill 142. It is the government’s intention to post the proposed regulations on Ontario’s Regulatory Registry in February 2018.

The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development released the province’s apprenticeship strategy titled “A Stronger Apprenticeship System for Ontario” on February 7, 2018. The strategy was developed after broad, province-wide consultation through working sessions that involved more than 1,000 people.

The strategy is a multi-year plan built on five “essential pillars and future state goals” each one with a suite of short and long tern initiatives.

On January 30, 2018 the Government of Canada, through representatives of the Minister of Public Services and Procurement, announced it is seeking industry input and recommendations on federal prompt payment legislation.

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) recently asked the Council of Ontario Construction Associations to consider supporting a longstanding CCA policy that states “CCA opposes government-owned or controlled entities competing for construction contracts”.

At the Ontario Liberal Party’s recent annual meeting, MPP Yvan Baker revealed the top 10 list of ideas that were put forward in an online OLP consultation that engaged more than 14,500 people and produced more than 1,00 ideas

In June 2017, the Ontario Government introduced An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and the Labour Relations Act, 1995 and to make related amendments to other Acts, referred to as the "Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017" ("Bill 148").